Hughes eyeing fourth spot

[Vhero]

Manchester City boss Mark Hughes believes Liverpool are vulnerable and he is targeting their place in the top four.

The Reds are currently on a dismal run of form and sit in seventh in the Premier League, with just 24 points from their opening 16 games.

Aston Villa, Spurs and City are currently ahead of Rafa Benitez's side in the standings and Hughes believes one of the trio could make it into the money-spinning UEFA Champions League draw.

He said: "One team (out of the top four) is usually deemed as the most vulnerable - and currently that is Liverpool.

Highly unlikely

"It is highly unlikely to change now.

"Teams won't be challenging for the top two or three. That is not going to happen this year.

"It probably means only one club is going to get into the top four. Maybe it will change in the future. But this season fourth place is one that is up for grabs."

He added: "I am sure Rafa Benitez would argue about it. The game is all about opinions.

"But if we benefit from other teams not being able to get positive results then hopefully we will take the opportunity that presents itself."

Spurs clash

Next up for City is a trip to top-four rivals Spurs on Wednesday, in a game being shown live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD2 at 8pm.

After a run of eight draws in nine games, City could do with a win, but Hughes knows it will be tough.

"Spurs have a very good squad with plenty of depth," said Hughes.

"If they are playing to their maximum they will always cause you problems.

"Harry has invested well. He has spent a lot of money but he has brought good players to the club."

So 4th is now on the agenda?

[Beefymcfc]

Always was mate, Hughes stated it early in the season.

[Original Dub]

Of course we're going to AIM for fourth.

Anyone who thought we didn't want to aim for fourth is a fucking idiot. Why would a club, or ANYONE within that club & with the means to mount a possible challenge, decide that they didn't want to??!

It still baffles me that that fucking fucktard virus R_I_G managed to have so many people contributing to a thread he started in which he stated that Hughes doesn't want to aim for fourth!

Ah well, at least he's gone now... to where all the window lickers go.... Bluemong.

Ciao weirdo.

[Moonchesteri]

Always was mate, Hughes stated it early in the season.

Am I wrong or was there a lot of talk about top six finish earlier? I seem to recall a few players mentioning that late in the summer or so..

[Beefymcfc]

Always was mate, Hughes stated it early in the season.

Am I wrong or was there a lot of talk about top six finish earlier? I seem to recall a few players mentioning that late in the summer or so..

You are very much correct, however Hughes has stated on a number of occassions that if there is a chance, we would aim for it.

[Original Dub]

Always was mate, Hughes stated it early in the season.

Am I wrong or was there a lot of talk about top six finish earlier? I seem to recall a few players mentioning that late in the summer or so..

Come on now mate, top six is obviously a minimum target. Targets can change throughout a season.

Just ask Rafa.

[Beefymcfc]

Always was mate, Hughes stated it early in the season.

Am I wrong or was there a lot of talk about top six finish earlier? I seem to recall a few players mentioning that late in the summer or so..

Come on now mate, top six is obviously a minimum target. Targets can change throughout a season.

Just ask Rafa.

What, Rafa was aiming for a Europe spot? He'll be lucky to get 6th..............oh wait, I wasn't thinking ;-)

[shawzy]

I dont like all this talk of aiming for 4th spot..Its as if were surrendering 1st 2nd 3rd..We should aim to win the prem league like all the top sides do.Then see where we end up at the end of season.
Yes i do realize its premature to expect us to win the prem, but its better overall to aim higher than 4th and see where we end up.

[Beefymcfc]

I dont like all this talk of aiming for 4th spot..Its as if were surrendering 1st 2nd 3rd..We should aim to win the prem league like all the top sides do.Then see where we end up at the end of season.
Yes i do realize its premature to expect us to win the prem, but its better overall to aim higher than 4th and see where we end up.

Yes Shawzy you are right, but at the same time you have a position stated at the start of the season which you aim for. You also have your dream wish list which in reality starts at first, with a steady progression down. The league changes over the course of a season and you revise your views. Every game things change.

[carl_feedthegoat]

VILLA WILL BE 6 POINTS AHEAD OF US IN ANOTHER 40 MINS OR SO....THEY ARE STRONG THIS SEASON AND ARE SO COMPOSED ON THE BALL.


WE NEED A WIN AGAINST SPURS TOMORROW.

[Beefymcfc]

Carl, you're such a PARTY QUEEN, always about the next game! You wanna get home more ;-)

[Buffalo Soldier]

VILLA WILL BE 6 POINTS AHEAD OF US IN ANOTHER 40 MINS OR SO....THEY ARE STRONG THIS SEASON AND ARE SO COMPOSED ON THE BALL.


WE NEED A WIN AGAINST SPURS TOMORROW.

They did the same thing last year mate and then fell away badly around Feb/March. Villa have got a very good starting 11 but their squad is pretty thin and a few injuries or players losing form and they will start to struggle again.

[shawzy]

I dont like all this talk of aiming for 4th spot..Its as if were surrendering 1st 2nd 3rd..We should aim to win the prem league like all the top sides do.Then see where we end up at the end of season.
Yes i do realize its premature to expect us to win the prem, but its better overall to aim higher than 4th and see where we end up.

Yes Shawzy you are right, but at the same time you have a position stated at the start of the season which you aim for. You also have your dream wish list which in reality starts at first, with a steady progression down. The league changes over the course of a season and you revise your views. Every game things change.

Very true bud.The prem this season is very hard to judge about who will be in which spot.
Id even say 3rd is achievable for us...Iv never known so many teams up for a champs spot..Its a lottery at the minute..More like a top 7 haha,Like you mentioned.Anything can change, its very close and not one team have pulled away from the rest so far.Maybe after Christmas we will see the better sides pushing ahead and creating a decent points gap.Lets hope its City that can be in the mix :-)

[Beefymcfc]

I dont like all this talk of aiming for 4th spot..Its as if were surrendering 1st 2nd 3rd..We should aim to win the prem league like all the top sides do.Then see where we end up at the end of season.
Yes i do realize its premature to expect us to win the prem, but its better overall to aim higher than 4th and see where we end up.

Yes Shawzy you are right, but at the same time you have a position stated at the start of the season which you aim for. You also have your dream wish list which in reality starts at first, with a steady progression down. The league changes over the course of a season and you revise your views. Every game things change.

Very true bud.The prem this season is very hard to judge about who will be in which spot.
Id even say 3rd is achievable for us...Iv never known so many teams up for a champs spot..Its a lottery at the minute..More like a top 7 haha,Like you mentioned.Anything can change, its very close and not one team have pulled away from the rest so far.Maybe after Christmas we will see the better sides pushing ahead and creating a decent points gap.Lets hope its City that can be in the mix :-)

My own opinion is that we will be the ones to come good, and I haven't been proven wrong yet. They say that Hughes' teams come strong after Xmas and the fact that our current players should have gelled, says to me that the Future is Very Bright!

[shawzy]

I dont like all this talk of aiming for 4th spot..Its as if were surrendering 1st 2nd 3rd..We should aim to win the prem league like all the top sides do.Then see where we end up at the end of season.
Yes i do realize its premature to expect us to win the prem, but its better overall to aim higher than 4th and see where we end up.

Yes Shawzy you are right, but at the same time you have a position stated at the start of the season which you aim for. You also have your dream wish list which in reality starts at first, with a steady progression down. The league changes over the course of a season and you revise your views. Every game things change.

Very true bud.The prem this season is very hard to judge about who will be in which spot.
Id even say 3rd is achievable for us...Iv never known so many teams up for a champs spot..Its a lottery at the minute..More like a top 7 haha,Like you mentioned.Anything can change, its very close and not one team have pulled away from the rest so far.Maybe after Christmas we will see the better sides pushing ahead and creating a decent points gap.Lets hope its City that can be in the mix :-)

My own opinion is that we will be the ones to come good, and I haven't been proven wrong yet. They say that Hughes' teams come strong after Xmas and the fact that our current players should have gelled, says to me that the Future is Very Bright!

Same here Beefy.We do have a few problems to iron out with our defending as a unit, but im stayin with you at keeping on the positive.We are a bloody good side now and have nothing to fear once we tighten up at the back.
3rd is achievable if we knuckle down and keep our mindset on the games ahead..Come on Blues.

[Blue2]

VILLA WILL BE 6 POINTS AHEAD OF US IN ANOTHER 40 MINS OR SO....THEY ARE STRONG THIS SEASON AND ARE SO COMPOSED ON THE BALL.


WE NEED A WIN AGAINST SPURS TOMORROW.

Birmingham ahead of us now as well. OK, I know we have two games in hand, but shows just how much of an opportunity we have missed in the last two months.

[nickson71]

VILLA WILL BE 6 POINTS AHEAD OF US IN ANOTHER 40 MINS OR SO....THEY ARE STRONG THIS SEASON AND ARE SO COMPOSED ON THE BALL.


WE NEED A WIN AGAINST SPURS TOMORROW.

Birmingham ahead of us now as well. OK, I know we have two games in hand, but shows just how much of an opportunity we have missed in the last two months.

Definitely ..... if we'd managed to turn a few of those bad draws into wins we could well have been on the same points as Villa with 2 games in hand

[DoomMerchant]

VILLA WILL BE 6 POINTS AHEAD OF US IN ANOTHER 40 MINS OR SO....THEY ARE STRONG THIS SEASON AND ARE SO COMPOSED ON THE BALL.


WE NEED A WIN AGAINST SPURS TOMORROW.

understatement of the year for me. Out ambition is clearly on full display tomorrow, and we need a show of force.

cheers

[Chinners]

Bonkers stuff. If Arsenal win their 2 games in hand ... they could be joint top, lose them both and we win both and we could go joint 3rd. Great stuff, getting like the good old days now

[shawzy]

VILLA WILL BE 6 POINTS AHEAD OF US IN ANOTHER 40 MINS OR SO....THEY ARE STRONG THIS SEASON AND ARE SO COMPOSED ON THE BALL.


WE NEED A WIN AGAINST SPURS TOMORROW.

Birmingham ahead of us now as well. OK, I know we have two games in hand, but shows just how much of an opportunity we have missed in the last two months.

Definitely ..... if we'd managed to turn a few of those bad draws into wins we could well have been on the same points as Villa with 2 games in hand

Haha..Bloody madness..I cant believe you 2 are even worried...Have faith..Were a good side and will overtake them with ease as the season goes on.